Hanging Bird Feeder with Weight-Actuated Shrouds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hanging bird feeders are unable to effectively prevent larger birds and squirrels from accessing food due to bulky mechanisms that are not suitable for hanging designs, which interfere with the feeder's size and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A hanging bird feeder with individually operable shrouds and pivoting members biased by torsion springs, allowing perches to move under weight, preventing larger birds and squirrels from feeding while maintaining accessibility and protection from food and weather.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individually operable shrouds are added to prevent larger birds and squirrels, then bird selection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder is divided into multiple independent feeding stations, each with its own perch and shroud that can operate independently. This segmentation allows small birds to access any station while preventing larger birds and squirrels from accessing multiple stations simultaneously, resolving the contradiction by distributing the exclusion function across multiple simple units rather than one complex centralized mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The perches are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to rotate or tilt when weight is applied. This dynamic element automatically responds to the weight of birds or squirrels, with lighter small birds unable to trigger the movement while heavier larger birds and squirrels cause the perches to move and close the shrouds, achieving bird selection through dynamic mechanical response rather than complex control systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bulky mechanisms are used to prevent larger birds and squirrels, then bird selection capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism components are arranged in a vertical configuration with the feed reservoir positioned above the perches and shrouds. This vertical arrangement allows gravity to assist in the operation of the mechanism while providing clear vertical clearance for maintenance access, resolving the contradiction by utilizing the vertical dimension for both operational function and maintenance accessibility rather than requiring horizontal space that would obstruct access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If perches are positioned around the periphery for multiple access points, then bird selection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each perch-shroud unit is designed to function independently through self-service mechanics where the weight of a bird or squirrel directly actuates its associated shroud closure. The perches are positioned around the periphery but each operates autonomously without requiring coordination with adjacent units, achieving multiple access points with simple independent mechanisms rather than complex coordinated systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for a compact, maintainable, and adjustable mechanism that effectively excludes larger birds and squirrels from the feeder, ensuring small songbirds can feed while protecting the mechanism from interference and damage.
Implementation Method 1
the perches are biased to rest in their first position by means of torsion springs acting on the pivoting members and located adjacent the first ends of respective pivoting members
Implementation Method 2
the perches are independently moveable under weight to a second position where their respective shrouds are covering their respective openings
Data Source
AI summary
A hanging bird feeder comprises a hanging attachment that allows a user to hang the feeder, a feed reservoir, and a plurality of individual perches arranged around the periphery of the bird feeder and adjacent respective feed-dispensing openings. The feeder has a plurality of shrouds each connected to respective perches and the perches are biased to rest in a first position where their associated shrouds are not covering their respective openings. The perches are independently moveable under weight to a second position where their respective shrouds are covering their respective openings. The feeder has a plurality of pivoting members pivotally attached at first ends under the feed reservoir and having free ends that extend under respective perches. The perches are biased to rest in their first position by means of torsion springs acting on the pivoting members and located adjacent the first ends of respective pivoting members.